
Programme theme
Brave New Worlds: The Disruptors
For the 2025/26 season, Lyra’s Young Artists disrupt and reimagine a world that isn’t made for them.
Same old, same old.
No. No. No.
Where are we supposed to go?
What are we supposed to do?
What if other worlds existed, alongside the one we know? Other worlds from the past, the future or happening right now. What if we could see into these worlds or even change them? Re-write the narrative, cut new paths.
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The Young Artists will shortlist, audition and commission the artists and ideas they want to work with to create new shows for the 2026 Bright & Wild Festival - watch this space for updates.
WEDNESDAY YOUNG ARTISTS
Working with the Lyra Ensemble and Kim Stronach
​In our adventures this year we become curious explorers - disruptors who dare to cross the threshold from reality into the unknown. Facing the obstacles and fears that challenge our bravery and encourage us to lean on each other, as a team, to navigate our journeys. Curious to find out where we end up if we take risks and venture into the worlds we dream of creating. So, we are finding the joyful willingness to jump into the unknown together!


THURSDAY YOUNG ARTISTS
Working with Hope Kennedy
For this year's Bright & Wild commission the Thursday Young Artists will be working with Hope Kennedy to create a performance inspired by Scottish folklore.
Alongside Hope, the Young Artists will be experimenting with devised movement, storytelling and reimagined myths to create a show full of magic, dream-like dance sequences and strange creatures from a time long ago!
SCAMPS
Working with the Lyra Ensemble and Katrine Turner
How can children change the world around them and make their voices heard? This year the Scamps will be taking on the role of Disruptors! Cover the grey wall with colourful posters! Seed bomb that bit of waste land! Tape Art the windows! They’ll be working with Katrine and the Lyra team on creative ways to make their mark in their local community.
Through play, art and activism, Scamps are going to be disrupting the status quo in and around Lyra!


THE OUTLINE
Working with Dan Brown
This year for Bright & Wild I am really excited to be collaborating with The Outline to make a brand new devised piece of performance. ‘BOX WORLD (working title) is all about a world where everyone has to live and conform in their own four walls. Having to ‘tick all the right boxes’ and follow their predetermined path, the performers of BOX WORLD dare to ‘think outside the box’ to dismantle and explore. Walls will fall (metaphorical & physical), and bodies will move together to show what is really possible when systems are shattered and overcome.
